VICTOR — It’s amazing what four neighborhood friends can come up with when they’re trying to make a simple martini. Lisa Ginther recalls the day the concept and eventually the vision for 1961 Vodka started to take shape.

"We were at a neighborhood gathering and were discussing how most vodka is now artificially flavored — from bubblegum, cupcake and even bacon," said Ginther, a Victor resident. "The idea was born to create a high quality, clean, crisp vodka made in America."

The group did some research and found that the few popular unflavored, high quality vodkas were not actually produced in America.

"Grey Goose is French, and Belvedere is from Poland," Ginther said. "The ones that people really consider high end are all from foreign sources. And we’ve got all these resources here for really fantastic vodka, so we said we should do it."

That’s when the group, now known as Stonehurst Brands LLC, decided to create its own made-in-America brand. The name references the neighborhood the families share.

"It’s been two years in the making," said managing partner Chris Parsons. "Starting with the idea, and then branding — we knew from very early on that we wanted it to be high quality. We worked with a number of different distillers, and arrived at one that we think is just absolutely fantastic."

Together they arrived at the specific flavor of 1961, and with every step forward, grew more and more excited as it became a reality.

"Now we’re incredibly proud of the packaging, which won five American Advertising (ADDY) Awards in March," said Parsons. "And then the vodka comes out on top every time in blind taste tests."

Not bad at all for a product that’s been on the shelves for little more than two months.

"It’s the entire combination," said Parsons. "What goes into our vodka is wheat, and New York grows a fantastic soft white wheat that happens to be perfect for distilling. And the water is New York state limestone filtered water. Even the tap water wins awards in national contests. It’s all the right ingredients for a great vodka."

Produced on Cayuga Lake by Lake Distilling in King Ferry, 1961 Vodka is handcrafted in small batches, distilled five times and bottled by hand to ensure a clean, crisp, quality taste and smooth finish.

"Step by step, it all just fell into place," said Parsons, who added that 1961 Vodka "seems to be selling really well in the 53-year-old crowd."

What’s next for the creators of 1961 Vodka? They’ve got a number of ideas — but none they want to mention just yet. For now they’re enjoying the success, and taste, of their product.

Fourteen classic cocktails with a new twist are featured on the 1961vodka.com website.

Page 2 of 2 - "My personal favorites are something called the 1961 Blastoff, the 1961 Old Fashioned, and just on the rocks," said managing partner Teresa Parsons. Her husband, Chris, drinks his 1961 straight on the rocks, but also loves an Old Fashioned, too.

"I like a very slightly dirty martini with extra olives," Ginther said.

Also listed online are vendors and restaurants throughout the region that sell or serve 1961 Vodka. The product, which sells for $27 to $30 a bottle and is distributed by Opici Family Distributing, can be found in venues from Buffalo to Albany, with a heavier concentration in the Rochester area.

"1961 was a single year, but in a way, it was an era all its own," said Chris Parsons. "Many historic milestones were met in 1961: the home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, the first American in space, Kennedy being elected president. The legendary entertainers of the time were Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Having our brand represent this classic era is the perfect fit."